At least 81 Labour MPs have signed Catherine West’s letter for Keir Starmer to immediately announce a timetable for his departure to allow an election in September. This graphic by @toryfibs names those who are known:

Signing up for that timetable is an indication of likely support for an Andy Burnham leadership bid, as Burnham would need time to persuade an existing MP to step down and allow him to stand. However, the pro-Israel right’s stranglehold on party mechanisms is so tight it is far from certain he would ever get to stand. It is far from certain Labour would win a by-election even if he did.

Starmer: now or later?

Yet more MPs are pushing for Starmer to go immediately. These almost certainly back the awful Wes Streeting, as they believe he would have no chance against Burnham if he gets back into Parliament.

The pressure is mounting on the worst PM in history – worse even than the notorious Liz Truss. But Starmer – always a woeful politician – has told them MPs this morning that he will not go unless a leadership election is formally triggered.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

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King Charles will address Parliament on Wednesday (Alamy)

6 min read26 min

On Wednesday, Charles III will deliver the King’s Speech in Parliament, setting out the government’s plans for policies and legislation for the coming parliamentary session. 

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The speech will come as Keir Starmer fights for his premiership amid a swathe of resignations and increasing calls for the Prime Minister to set out a timetable for electing a new leader of the Labour Party.

The government has said that the King’s speech is expected to unveil over 35 bills and draft bills.

Here is what could be in the King’s speech, set to be delivered at 11 30am:

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Economy

Nationalisation of British Steel: The government is expected to introduce legislation to allow for the nationalisation of Chinese-owned British Steel, subject to a public-interest test. Last year, the government passed emergency powers to save British Steel from closure. It is unclear how much nationalisation would cost.

Tourist tax: Legislation to allow mayors and councils to introduce a tourist tax for overnight stays is expected. Local government Secretary Steve Reed said last year that the move would “unlock growth through investment”.

Closer alignment with the European Union: At a speech on Monday, Starmer said that a closer relationship with Europe is at the heart of the “Labour choice” going forward. The government has said that new laws will deliver more trade, more opportunities for young people and help to reduce the cost of living. 

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Financial services Bill: According to The Financial Times, the bill will set out changes to major regulators, alongside a package of City of London reforms.

Late Payments Bill: The Department for Business and Trade published its response to the late payments consultation in March and said that mandatory interest on late payments would be introduced. Late payments to suppliers are estimated to cost the UK economy £11bn each year. 

National Wealth Fund Bill: The government previously established the National Wealth Fund, replacing the UK Infrastructure Bank in October. Legislation could be brought forward to further outline next steps.

Public Procurement (British Goods and Services) Bill: The bill, which was introduced in 2024, aims to increase the use of UK suppliers and would introduce mandatory reporting on the proportion of British food supplied to the public sector.

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Technology

Digital ID: While the government U-turned on plans to introduce a mandatory form of digital ID, a voluntary form of the technology is set to be introduced. 

Cyber attacks: First announced in the 2024 King’s Speech, the legislation aims to make essential and digital services more secure in the face of cyber criminals.

Health

Abolishing NHS England: Legislation will be needed to deliver on the abolition of NHS England, announced last year by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and implement several commitments in the 10-year health plan.

Energy and water

Water regulator bill: The government said last year that Ofwat would be replaced with a new, single, powerful regulator to be established to cut water pollution in England’s rivers, lakes and seas, and protect families from massive bill hikes.

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Energy Independence Bill: Government is expected to bring forward the Energy Independence Act, which will “establish the framework for Labour’s energy and climate policies” and provide “energy independence from dictators like Putin”. It will also give government more power to tackle the affordability crisis and speed up the delivery of clean energy technologies.

Housing and local government

Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill: The legislation, a draft version of which has already been published, will make it easier for residents to extend their lease and buy their freehold, as well as cap ground rents at £250 a year.

Building Safety Remediation Bill: This legislation will aim to strengthen building safety standards and accelerate the remediation of residential buildings with unsafe cladding in England, following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

Local government standards: The government has tabled amendments to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill in a bid to strengthen scrutiny of mayors.

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Home affairs

Policing reform: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has previously said she would reduce the number of police forces in England and Wales and pledged to abolish Police and Crime Commissioners.

Immigration: The government has previously said it would like to narrow the scope of the use Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides a right to respect for family and private life, as it is being used too often as a ground to block removals.

Courts and Tribunals Bill: The controversial bill, which will abolish jury trials in some cases, will be carried over from the previous parliamentary session.

Terrorism: The Prevent learning review from the Southport attack identified a gap around the understanding of radicalisation indicators where a specific ideology does not seem to be present.

Animal welfare

Vet costs reforms: After a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found problems in the veterinary market could be costing households up to £1bn over five years, the government said it would set out a series of reforms to the sector.

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Animal welfare reforms: In December, the government announced a tranche of animal welfare reforms, including ending puppy farming and improving conditions for farm animals. 

Transport

Railways Bill: The legislation is currently making its way through Parliament and will nationalise railways in England, Wales and Scotland under ‘Great British Railways’.

High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill: The bill, first introduced under the Tories, is being repurposed for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), which aims to boost connectivity in the North of England.

Road safety: Measures could be introduced after the government published its new road safety strategy, including mandatory eye tests for older drivers.

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Other legislation

Public Office (Accountability) Bill: The legislation, also known as ‘The Hillsborough Law’ is currently making its way through Parliament. As first reported by The Times, the government is expected to scrap an expectation that the duty of candour will not extend to the intelligence services.

Representation of the People Bill: The government will look to finalise this bill, which will lower the voting age to 16 for general elections, a key Labour pledge in 2024.

Peerages: Following additional revelations about Peter Mandelson’s relationship with the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, the government said it would draft legislation to remove disgraced peers.

Conversion therapy: Ministers have said that they will bring forward legislation for a full trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices. The Conversion Practices Bill was announced in the 2024 King’s Speech.

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Education

School system: The government will set out previously published reforms aiming to transform the school system. While the government has set out reforms to the special educational needs and disabilities system, it is still consulting on those proposals.

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Pakistan has reiterated plans to issue a yuan-denominated “Panda bond” as it seeks to shore up its economy. This move comes amid inflationary and geopolitical pressures triggered by Trump’s war on Iran. The longer-term strategy is to reduce Pakistan’s reliance on the dollar. Meanwhile, Pakistan aims to raise funds through Chinese capital markets.

These plans, announced by Pakistan’s finance minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, are expected to take effect next week:

God willing, next week you will hear good news that for the first time, we will be accessing Chinese capital markets through Panda bond.

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Pakistan’s initial $250 million Panda bond, backed by the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, is part of a $1 billion package.

The dual shock of soaring inflation and collapsing remittance incomes has put Pakistan’s economy in a squeeze, alongside others across Asia. They’re reeling as a direct consequence of disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies.

In South Asia, inflation is set to rise from 2.9% in 2025 to 5.0% in 2026, driven by higher food and energy prices.

Abandoned by the UAE

Pakistan was recently also rocked by the UAE’s refusal to renew a $3.5 billion financial facility, a move viewed by Islamabad as a betrayal. Saudi Arabia stepped in with $3 billion in additional support to help bridge the multi-billion-dollar gap in the country’s finances.

According to the FT, the UAE’s decision follows growing frustration with Pakistan’s deepening ties with Saudi Arabia and what it considers Pakistan’s meek response to Iranian attacks on the Gulf.

Recent UAE developments, including the US dollar swap request, exit from OPEC, and expulsion of 15,000 Pakistani Shias, can be read as interlocking signs of the Gulf state’s increased subservience to the US/Israel axis.

Michael Kugelman of the Atlantic Council, a pro-war group, in an interview with DW, said that Pakistan’s role as a mediator was to protect itself because of its vulnerability. The country depends heavily on Gulf remittances from overseas workers, and energy imports from the Middle East.

Pakistan’s need to protect its fiscal position is shaped in large part by the need for cash in a cash-strapped, politically turbulent region.

By contrast, the US interests, which Kugelman presumably thinks are altruistic, are applauded… American exceptionalism and all.

What he presents as opportunistic behaviour by Pakistan is, in fact, a question of survival. After all, his institution’s backers in Washington and Tel Aviv are the ones who started the war. So, are countries in the Global South expected to absorb these consequences without protest? Or should they do so without mitigation?

The curse of IMF loans

Pakistan has received $4.8 billion from the International Monetary Fund so far. These funds were received under two separate programmes.

The first is the Extended Fund Facility, a 37 month arrangement approved on September 25, 2024. This is the main bailout program. In addition, the second is the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. It is a 28-month arrangement approved on May 9, 2025. It focuses on climate and disaster resilience.

IMF is a Western neoliberal international finance institution that offers the poorer nations no viable exit from the death spiral of debt.

According to the Tricontinental Institute:

 the IMF not only engineers austerity-driven debt crises, but its policies are designed to ensure and manage a permanent debt crisis, not to erase debt.

Ali Hasanain, a professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, explained on Al Jazeera that Pakistan entered the Iran war crisis with virtually “no economic cushion”. This was because it had already been subjected to a long-standing IMF-managed austerity programme.

As a result, the government was unable to shield ordinary people from rising energy prices. Consequently, it was forced to pass most of the inflation directly onto consumers.

The US-Israeli war on Iran has impacted fiscally vulnerable nations like Pakistan. Hence, its entry into the Chinese capital market through the Panda bond is a much-needed lifeline.

Featured image via the Canary

By The Canary

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Members of Knesset (MKs) in Israel have passed a bill establishing a so-called ‘special tribunal’ for Palestinians detained on 7 October 2023.

The tribunal is designed to strip fair trial rights and has the power to impose death penalties on detainees.

The bill passed without a single dissenting vote. A total of 27 MKs in Israel’s parliament did not vote.

Israel MKs voted 93-0 in favour of the bill

Human rights groups in Israel and occupied Palestine say the bill removes any legal impediments to executing prisoners.

Muna Haddad, a lawyer with The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel (Adalah), told Al Jazeera that the bill is designed to make it easy to secure the mass conviction of Palestinians.

She said:

The bill explicitly permits mass trials that deviate from standard rules of evidence, including broad judicial discretion to admit evidence obtained under coercive conditions that may amount to torture or ill-treatment.

This constitutes a severe violation of fair trial guarantees that falls well short of international law requirements.

The provisions governing public hearings…violate the presumption of innocence, the right to a fair trial, and the right to dignity. The framework effectively treats indictment as a finding of guilt, before any judicial examination has begun.

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Show trials

In a move designed to humiliate those seized, the trials will be publicly broadcast, including sentencing.

Israel murdered hundreds of its own citizens on 7 October 2023 under the ‘Hannibal directive’ in repeated attacks from early morning to late at night. Israel’s then-defence minister Yo’av Gallant told a TV interviewer that he wished the IOF had killed more.

At least 200 people were detained after the raid on ‘suspicion’ of involvement, but no evidence has ever been presented against them.

Featured image via Anadolu Agency 

By Skwawkbox

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In his speech to Equity’s annual conference on Sunday 10 May, general secretary Paul W Fleming called for prime minister Keir Starmer:

to set out a timetable in which he resigns and is replaced.

He also said that the union “opposes” Reform:

opposes giving them a platform, and opposes what they threaten to do to our movement and trade union.

But Fleming added that among Reform voters are:

people who are actually frustrated about the economic and social situation in which we find ourselves… who are desperately grabbing around for a different answer.

And he said that for this:

there is one person who is disproportionately to blame: not Nigel Farage, but Keir Starmer.

Equity’s annual conference took place this year in the Durham Miners’ Hall from 9-11 May.

Elsewhere, the general secretary said that there is currently a:

real prospect of industrial action on the West End costing the bosses hundreds of thousands of pounds a day.

This was referring to the ongoing indicative ballot of performers and stage management working in London’s world-famous theatres who are threatening to take strike action for fairer pay, terms and conditions.

He also said that the union had:

Never had as many [emails] as in response to our loss at Spotlight [of which people were] proud that this is a union that is standing up for them.

In September last year, the High Court ruled in favour of Spotlight, dismissing Equity’s case that the casting directory’s fees should be regulated. The union’s appeal is set to go ahead in November this year.

The section of Fleming’s speech regarding Starmer and Reform in full:

It would be remiss of me after the last week to not mention potentially the biggest threat to our union, to our industry, and to any union. And that is the rise of the far right. And I don’t want to speak euphemistically.

The rise of the far right includes Reform. Reform is the far right. Not every Reform voter. Not every Reform council candidate. But the leadership and direction and policies of that party are those of the far right.

And I have no shame in saying so, and I have no shame in saying that this union opposes them, opposes giving them a platform, and opposes what they threaten to do to our movement and trade union.

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But as we find amongst Reform voters – and indeed some Reform councillors – converts to our way of thinking, people who are actually frustrated about the economic and social situation in which we find ourselves, which has seen wage stagnation across our economy, that has seen austerity in our communities, who are desperately grabbing around for a different answer, there is one person who is disproportionately to blame: not Nigel Farage, but Keir Starmer.

And this union should have no hesitation in calling for the prime minister to set out a timetable in which he resigns and is replaced.

Featured image via Equity

By The Canary

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Jordan Devlin was one of six ‘Filton 24’ activists retried by the Starmer regime for damaging an Israeli weapons factory.

Devlin and Zoe Rogers were acquitted. Their four comrades were convicted after the trial judge forbade any mention of the jury’s legal right to acquit on conscience.

The government wants those four — Samuel Corner, Charlotte Head, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani — sentenced as terrorists. They were convicted of criminal damage, not of any terror offence.

Devlin is asking well-wishers to attend their sentencing on 12 June at Woolwich Crown Court to show support for the Filton 24.

Those who care about human rights and what’s left of justice in the UK should be there, if they can.

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By Skwawkbox

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Mathys Tel produced the kind of moment that makes managers grin and then grind their teeth in frustration, as he curled superb finish into the top corner to put Spurs ahead early in the second half. The goal looked like it might settle a nervy night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

However, twenty minutes later, the same player attempted an overhead kick defensive clearance which struck Ethan Ampadu. After a VAR review, Leeds were awarded a penalty that Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted to level the game.

Tottenham’s attacking intent was clear: they probed, they recycled possession, and they created some openings. But, the match underlined a recurring problem this season. Few moments of quality are too often followed by lapses in concentration. That oscillation between brilliance and error has left Spurs in a precarious position with only two games to go.

Spurs last minute drama

The penalty decision was the games fulcrum, referee Jarred Gillett initially waved played on, but a lengthy VAR check and a pitchside monitor review overturned that call. The sequence summed up modern football’s reliance on replay technology, a single frame can change the course of a relegation battle.

There was more drama, in a chaotic 13 minutes of added time, Sean Longstaff thought he had a late winner only for Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky produce a spectacular save, pushing the effort onto the crossbar. That stop was arguably the difference between a home defeat and a point that keeps Tottenham marginally above the drop zone.

Kinsky’s was the standout player for Spurs; he made several important saves and was later named player of the match, a rare positive in a game where Spurs form at home remains a concern. The club have now won just once in their last ten matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a run that has amplified pressure on Roberto De Zerbi and his players as the season reaches its climax.

De Zerbi’s side showed fight and flashes of the tactical shape he’s trying to instil, but the manager will be frustrated by the inability to close out a match they controlled for long periods. He was forced to make attacking substitutions late on, including bringing on James Maddison, but even those changes couldn’t force the decisive breakthrough.

Leeds are safe

For Leeds, the draw was a valuable point and a sign of composure and maturity. They defended with discipline, stayed compact when needed, and took their chance from the spot. Crucially, Leeds top flight status for next season was already secured after West Ham’s defeat to Arsenal, meaning they could play with less pressure and more clarity in north London. That freedom showed in their organisation and willingness to see out the result.

Leeds’ manager will take encouragement from the way his team handled the occasion, the Whites were not there to make up the numbers, they came with a plan and executed it well enough to leave Spurs with a solid point.

Spurs future uncertain

The draw leaves Tottenham two points clear of the relegation zone with two games remaining, but the margin is fragile. West Ham sit just behind and can leapfrog Spurs if they beat Newcastle, a result that would dramatically reshape the final week of the season.

Spurs now head to Chelsea on May 19 before a final-day home fixture against Everton, West Ham’s remaining fixtures include a showdown with Leeds. The permutations are simple: any slip and Spurs could be dragged into a last-day scrap for survival.

This is not the script Spurs expected when the season began. Instead of a comfortable finish, they face a tense run-in where every decision, substitution, and VAR check carries outsized weight. De Zerbi has repeatedly asked for calm and consistency. What he will get is a fortnight of high stakes football where margins will be measured in inches and seconds.

Final word

A night of mixed emotions for Tottenham, a moment of individual brilliance, a costly error, and a goalkeeper who kept them alive. For Leeds, a tidy away point and the luxury of safety already secured, the relegation picture has tilted again, not dramatically, but enough to ensure the final two fixtures will be watched with the kind of intensity usually reserved for cup finals.

Featured image via the Canary

By Faz Ali

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Wanted Israeli war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu has been given yet another soft-soap interview by Zionist-run CBS. In it, Netanyahu railed about the US public’s supposed hate for Israel but then turned, ‘panicked’, to first beg and then try to con China into ending its support for Iran.

China has supplied Iran with high-grade satellite intel on the positions of US and Israeli aggressors. It has reportedly agreed the sale of new, modern warplanes, is buying Iranian oil, and has moved its ships into position to impede illegal US operations.

And that support is proving highly effective. Iran is reported to have damaged and forced down two more of the US and Israel’s advanced F-35 strike aircraft, and three US warships. Hence, presumably, Netanyahu’s desperation.

Feeble

And desperate it was. The genocidaire tried to claim that China’s access to energy resources would be more secure with Iran defeated and the US/Israel in charge of the region.

But it’s an open secret admitted even by alleged western proxies that China, and strangling its supply of resources, is the ultimate target of the US-Israel war of aggression on Iran.

It was a feeble display from the usually arrogant criminal:

Massive panic in Tel Aviv. Major Garrett confirms China is actively providing highly advanced military support to Iran.

Benjamin Netanyahu is visibly terrified, desperately begging Beijing to stop arming Tehran.

Zionist regime realizes their regional dominance is collapsing. pic.twitter.com/SXDqVUCsYv

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— Furkan Gözükara (@FurkanGozukara) May 10, 2026

Featured image via Furkan Gözükara

By Skwawkbox

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With rumours of a leadership challenge swirling, YouGov polling demonstrating that Labour-right darling Wes Streeting is somehow an even worse option than Keir Starmer has resurfaced on social media.

The widely reposted infographic was highlighted by Stats for Lefties on May 11. It shows a Streeting-led Labour receiving just 5 seats in the 2029 general election, based on polling from 28 January 2026:

POLL | #GE2029 with Streeting as PM:

Ref: 32% (+17)
Grn: 21% (+14)
Con: 15% (-9)
Lab: 15% (-20)
Lib: 11% (-2)

{ Seats }
Ref: 373 (+368)
Grn: 101 (+97)
Lib: 72 (-)
SNP: 47 (+38)
Con: 17 (-104)
Plaid: 10 (+6)
Lab: 5 (-406)

Poll: @YouGov, 28 Jan 2026 pic.twitter.com/13HmCGvTCx

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— Stats for Lefties (@LeftieStats) May 11, 2026

Streeting somehow worse than Starmer

Streeting’s hypothetical Labour Party would draw just 15% of the vote share. Meanwhile, Reform would take a sweeping majority, with the Greens in second. That being said, the Lib Dems’ vote share would barely change, because even the centrists don’t care for poor Wesley.

Because the health secretary has all of the political guile of a goldfish, the fact that he’s got his eyes on Starmer’s job is one of Westminster’s most poorly kept secrets:

Senior Labour source: “Wes has spent six months doing everything he could to bring down the Labour government while publicly denying it. Now everyone can see him for what he is: a self interested lizard.” https://t.co/KXG8f13byr

— Kevin Schofield (@KevinASchofield) May 11, 2026

As is tradition at the Canary, I turn now to the immortal words of Dawn Foster:

Wes Streeting is THE absolute worst. An irredeemable lickspittle cunt. pic.twitter.com/1sA3mSsoAw

— Jason Reid (@JasonReidx) July 12, 2024

Of course, we’re not just quoting that idly – the prick is deep in the pocket of private healthcare (whilst also eroding the NHS), proposed segregating trans people, and takes any chance he can to bash striking doctors. A “right wing lickspittle cunt” indeed.

But then, we would say that. So, let’s see what the general public thinks of the guy – maybe opinions have gone up since the January polls. Here’s some solid data from YouGov again:

Around 66% of the general public have actually heard of Streeting. Meanwhile, the majority of the people who have heard of him don’t like him. I particularly love that the shapes of the ‘know of him’ and ‘dislike him’ lines are almost identical.

‘It’s time for Wes!’

Obviously, social media had a field day with the idea of Streeting as the Labour right’s best hope.

The Labour Right are still yet to realise how toxic Streeting is to voters. He’d genuinely sink Labour to under 10% in the polls. https://t.co/Bwq1lbmHeG

— Hugo Papé (@HugoPap2) May 11, 2026

He’d definitely finish what Starmer started:

I said this the other day but it genuinely speaks volumes to how out of touch with reality the Labour Party is that they would even entertain the possibility of replacing Keir Starmer with Wes Streeting.

It would be an extinction-inducing decision. https://t.co/2HoEroZV87

— thelefttake (@thelefttake) May 11, 2026

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Do we think Wes Streeting would be ruinous for the country? Yes. Do we think he’d be ruinous for the NHS? Also yes. Do we want him to spend even more time behind a microphone? God no.

I never thought I’d say it, but Starmer is definitely the better option here. That said, if it was only the modern Labour Party that Streeting’s leadership would burn to the ground, I’d be singing a very different tune:

It’s time for Wes! https://t.co/TGB4KdnYkS pic.twitter.com/WsFLGmQwkM

— Northern Greens (@VoteGreenNorth) May 11, 2026

‘A stronger version of Labour’

In his belly-flop of a speech yesterday, 11 May, Keir Starmer mused that:

This is nothing less than a battle for the soul of our nation. And I want to be crystal clear about how we will win it. Because we cannot win as a weaker version of Reform or the Greens, we can only win as a stronger version of Labour, a mainstream party of power, not protest.

I put it to you that Wes Streeting is the absolute apex example of the current Labour Party. I genuinely don’t think the even the Tony Blair Institute and Labour Together could conjure up a more lackluster right-wing shill if they designed him in a fucking lab.

And, as the YouGov polling shows, that “stronger version” of new-new-Labour most definitely could not win against Reform and the Greens. Hell, even with the whole UK to aim at, Streeting’s Labour couldn’t even beat Plaid Cymru.

Featured image via the Canary

By Alex/Rose Cocker

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A UK spy operation in the Russian Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad has generated virtually no press coverage. This sits in stark contrast to Russian sea and air missions anywhere near UK territories, which generate wall-to-wall stories from legacy media.

One of the only outlets reporting the story was UK Defence Journal, a military-adjacent website which mostly churns out government press releases and snippets of parliamentary debates.

The outlet said a UK Rivet Joint surveillance plane flew around Kaliningrad:

conducting a wide racetrack pattern around the Russian exclave, consistent with the UK’s long-running patrols across the Baltic region.

The website added:

These missions have been routine for years and pre-date Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Going off the legacy press, you’d think spy missions were all one way — with Russia poking around UK water and airspace unanswered. The truth is quite different.

Russian enclave spy missions

Kaliningrad is an island of Russian territory sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. It serves as a vital Russian port on the Baltic sea.

The Royal Air Force operates three RC-135Ws, aka the Rivet Joint spy plane. The aircraft works to:

intercept, characterise and analyse communications, radar and other electronic emissions to provide commanders with actionable intelligence.

And is “heavily used”:

for this and other operational taskings, and although formally designated Airseeker in UK service, it remains almost universally referred to by its Rivet Joint name.

The UK government warned that Russian spy ship Yantar in UK waters in April 2026. There was substantial press coverage as legacy media parroted government press releases:

Defence secretary John Healey has claimed Russian submarines have been spying on UK underwater infrastructure. Healey held a special 9 April press conference to announce a month-long operation against UK underwater pipes and cables had been foiled.

Enter Helsing

The UK announced in November 2025 that Palantir-linked AI arms firm Helsing was opening an drone factory in the UK. Helsing were keen to cash in on a military AI boom:

They’ll be making unmanned submersible ‘gliders’. Powered by AI, the SG-1 Fathom will “deliver persistent underwater surveillance, detecting enemy activity to protect our sea lanes and undersea critical national infrastructure”.

Defence secretary John Healey told the BBC at the time:

As we look to defend ourselves, seas and protect our cables, the uncrewed submarines or underwater gliders have the potential for playing a big part in the future,

It allows us to extend the range of how we can detect, how we can deter and if necessary, deal with any aggression that we face.

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In January 2025, the UK military ordered a submarine to dramatically surface near Yantar when it was operating off Cornwall. One expert called it:

“a bit of a flex” – part of an effort to get the Royal Navy to be more assertive.

The UK’s Kaliningrad mission tells a rare story. Surveillance operations are a two-way street. Yet the legacy press don’t report it as such. Maybe that’s something to keep in mind the next time the media simply repeat en masse what the military and government have said…

Featured image via Unsplash / the Canary

By Joe Glenton

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